The first decades of the twentieth century led to radical changes in the understanding of the physics of the atom, including the discovery of the nucleus, the idea of radiation, and the fact that the splitting of atomic nuclei in a chain reaction could lead to massive release of energy (nuclear fission).
The head of the Manhattan Project was General Leslie R. Groves. Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer was the director of the scientific team at Los Alamos in New Mexico. General Groves is shown on the left next to Dr. Oppenheimer. The isolated area of the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range, located 230 miles south of Los Alamos, was selected for the test that was given the code-name "Trinity."
Preparations for the testing of the bomb included the building of a steel tower that was to suspend the bomb one hundred feet above ground.
The first decades of the twentieth century led to radical changes in the understanding of the physics of the atom, including the discovery of the nucleus, the idea of radiation, and the fact that the splitting of atomic nuclei in a chain reaction could lead to massive release of energy (nuclear fission).
The head of the Manhattan Project was General Leslie R. Groves. Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer was the director of the scientific team at Los Alamos
Preparations for the testing of the bomb included the building of a steel tower that was to suspend the bomb one hundred feet above ground.
Flash from nuclear testing north of Los Alamos
Infrared image of Nuclear bomb explosion at Nuclear testing site
Different types of Nuclear testing
Links:
http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/atomic_bomb.htm
http://www.manhattenproject.com/
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/atomictest.htm
www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/travel/hiroshima_maps.htm
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0508/feature6/multimedia.html- Video link